Plate dispenser

ABSTRACT

A plate dispenser for nested stacked concave-convex plates acts to position the uppermost inverted plates in position where they can be individually grapsed and removed. A standard extends upwardly along the stack of inverted plates and slidably supports a weight designed to apply downward and inward pressure to the periphery of the stack, causing the diametrically opposed areas of the uppermost plates to fan out so as to be accessible for removal from the stack.

United States Patent 1 Engler et al.

[54] PLATE DISPENSER [75] Inventors: Joseph P. Engler, St. Paul; Glen 1E. Paulsen, Minneapolis, both of Minn.

[73] Assignee: T. 0. Plastics, Inc., Minneapolis,

Minn.

[22] Filed: Feb. 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 115,243

[52] US. Cl ..221/279 [51] Int. Cl, ..A47l 1/06 [58] Field of Search ..222/33, 36, 52, 56, 208, 226,

[56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,563,078 11/1925 Erdos ..221/56 X 1 Apr. 3, 1973 Marsh ,.273/l.5 R Pick ..221/279 Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Assistant Examiner-Larry Martin Attorney-Robert M Dunning [57] ABSTRACT 10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPRB ma 3,724,719

SHEET 1 [1F 2 INVENTOR GLEN E PAUL-SEN JOSEPH P ENGLER ATTORNEY PATENTEDAPR 3 I973 3.72411 9 SHEET 2 BF 2 I INVENTOR GAE/v E. PAULSE JOE'PH P [NGLER ATTORNEY PLATE DISPENSER This invention relates to an improvement in plate dispenser and deals particularly with a device for supporting disposable plastic plates in such a manner that they may be easily grasped for use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION During recent years the use of disposable plates, tumblers and the like has greatly increased. With the increase in cost of labor necessary to wash, dry and restack plates of the more permanent type, in many instances it has become more economical to merely discard the plates after use. This is particularly true in conjunction with hospitals and other such institutions where considerable time is required to distribute and collect the plates before and after every use, and where the food or other material left on the plates has a chance to harden so that it is difficult to remove.

Disposable plastic plates are often difficult to use in view of the fact that they are normally provided in piles or stacks where the plates nested one upon another. Individual plates are thin and somewhat flexible, and have a tendency to stick together when nested. As a result, considerable time is often wasted in separating the individual plates so that they can be readily used. In view of the fact that one of the qualifications of plates of the type in question lies in the fact that they must be produced at a very low cost, the use of spacers or other such separating means between the individual plates is normally impractical. In order to result in a saving of time, it it important that means be provided for simplifying the removal of individual plates from a stack so that they can be individually grasped and removed for use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION of concave-convex disposable nested plates, saucers,

bowls and other dishes. A standard extends upwardly from the base of the device in spaced relation to the stack of plates. A weight is slidably supported upon the standard. The weight is designated to bear against the marginal edge of one or more of the uppermost plates of the series. This weight acts to force .a portion of the marginal edge of the plates downwardly causing a number of the uppermost plates to fan out so that the edge of the plate which is diametrically opposite that engaged by the weight it is spaced from the next adjoining plate. As a result, the uppermost plate of the series may be readily grasped and removed from the stack. As each plate is removed, the weight engages the next adjoining plate. This action continues until the stack of plates is virtually'depleted. A spring means could also be used to accomplish the result.

A feature of the preferred .form of construction of the invention resides in the fact that the base of the 7 device is arranged to support stacks of plates of varying diameter. As a result, a stack of plates or other dishes of relatively small diameter may be dispensed as readily as plates of a considerably larger diameter.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a device of the type described which may be used in conjunction with a stack of plates each of which 'isrelatively deep and which is a bowl-like construction. As a result, the same device may be used for dispensing deep drawn plates which are of relatively small diameter and which are perhaps I it. to 2 inches deep as well as relatively large diameter plates of a relatively shallow nature.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a simple means which may function to hold the weight in an elevated position at the top of the standard when the dispenser is being reloaded or the size of the plates being dispensed is varied.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and .fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a perspective view of the plate dispenser as it appears in operation.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the dispensing device showing in broken lines the manner in which plates of various diameters may be supported for dispensing.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the weight, showing a means of holding the weight in an elevated position at the top of the standard during a reloading operation.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a detailed portion of the device.

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the plate support showing a single plate resting thereupon.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the manner in which the marginal edges of the nested plates are engaged by the weight for tilting the uppermost plates into dispensing position.

FIG. 7 is a diagramatic elevational view of a section of the device showing the weight in engagement with a deep drawn plate or bowl.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a modified form of plate in position upon the dispenser base.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a modified form of dispenser. I

FIG. 10 is fragmentaryperspective view of a portion of the dispenser shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view showing another portion of the dispenser indicated in FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The dispenser A illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8 inclusive of the drawings-includes a base panel 10 which is of generally trapazeoidal shape having an arcuate notch 11 in its narrower parallel edge. In the arrangement illustrated, the sides 12 of the base taper from the wider parallel edge 13 to the narrower parallel edge 14 in which the notch 11 is provided, the taper of the sides 12 being preferably symmetrical. The narrower edge 14 of the base is supported by a supporting leg or block 15 which overlaps the narrower edge of the base panel 10-and is secured thereto. The opposite ends of the base panel 10 is shown supported by supporting legs 16. As will be understood, the specific shape and construction of the base is somewhat a matter of choice. It is of importance that the end portion 15 forming the leg be on a level somewhat below the upper surface 17 of the base panel 10 so that the lower end of the weight may extend below the level of the base panel surface 17.

A cylindrical standard 19 extends upwardly from the leg at the center of arcuation of the groove or notch l l. A weight 20 is vertically slidable upon the standard 19. As is indicated in the drawings, the weight 20 is provided near its lower end with a peripheral shoulder 21 from which projects a downwardly and inwardly tapering bearing portion 22. The undersurface 23 of the weight is substantially flat and normal to the axis of the weight.

As indicated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, a washer-like ring 24 is pivotally connected to the upper end 25 of the weight 20 by a pivot 26 which has its axis substantially parallel to the axis of the weight. The ring 24 is provided with a central aperture 27 which may pivot into or out of alignment with the axial aperture 29 extending through the weight 20. When the washer 24 is pivoted into alignment with the weight 20, the weight may slide freely up and down on the standard 19. However, when the ring-shaped washer 24 is pivoted our of alignment with the weight 20, as indicated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the washer will bear against the upper end of the standard 19 and support the weight in an elevated position. This arrangement is provided in order to avoid the necessity of removing the weight from the standard when the stack of plates is being replenished or changed.

The base 10 is preferably symmetrical on opposite sides of the center line which is indicated by the broken line 28. A pair of parallel pins 30 extend upwardly from the base plate 10 on opposite sides of the center line 28 so as to limit the movement of the inverted stack of plates toward the standard 19. The pins 30 are equidistant from the center line 28, and are on a common line perpendicular to the center line 28. A second pair of pins 31 which are also equally spaced from the center line 28, and which are centered on a common line perpendicular to the center line 28 are designed to engage the rim 32 of the smallest plate to be dispensed by the dispenser. As will be noted in FIG. 2, when the plate rim 32 is positioned between the spaced pins 30 and the spaced pins 31, the marginal edges of the plates underlie the tapered portion 22 of the weight 20.

A third pair of pine 33 equally spaced on opposite sides of the center line 29 are provided for engaging the rim 35 of a plate or bowl of somewhat larger diameter. A fourth set of pins 36 are designed to center plates of a larger diameter as indicated by the broken line 37. A fifth pair of pins 39 extend upwardly from the base panel 10 and are designed to engage the rim of a still larger diameter plate as indicated by the broken line 40. The pins 39 may, in actual practice, form continuations of the legs 16. Obviously, the number of pairs of pins depends on the number of sizes of plates to be dispensed.

As is indicated .in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the various pins 31, 33 and 36 project but a short distance above the upper surface 17 of the base panel 16, and may have tapered upper surfaces sloping outwardly and downwardly from the center of radius of the plates of different sizes so as to cause a minimum of interference with plates of a somewhat larger diameter. In view of the fact that the plates being dispensed nest together, the plates remain substantially in vertical alignment although, as is indicated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the engagement of the marginal plate edges with the tapered lower end of the weight 20 may cause a slight misalignment as the uppermost plates are fanned apart or being individually grasped and removed from the stack.

As is indicated in FIGS. 6 and 8 of the drawings, the plates being dispensed, while differing materially in size and depth, all have certain features in common. Each plate or bowl includes a central body portion 41 which includes an inclined peripheral wall 42 which slopes outwardly and upwardly when the plate is upright. An upwardly and outwardly inclined flange 43 is connected to the upper edge of the wall 42 at a point 44 and slopes upwardly and outwardly at a relatively small angle to the horizontal. A short downwardly and outwardly inclined flange 45 encircles the flange 43, and terminates in an outwardly turned flange extremity 46 which extends virtually horizontally. It is this terminal flange 46 which engages the various pins for locating the plates upon the base.

While the plates nest closely together when stacked, the material forming the plates is somewhat resilient, and the individual plates would nest together even more effectively if pressure were applied about the entire periphery of the plates. Even if pressure is applied throughout the entire periphery of the plate for a period of time, when the pressure is released, the plates tend to spring slightly apart although the spacing is not sufficient to make it simple to insert a blade or flngernail between adjoining plates to separate them. However, when pressure is applied to one area on the periphery of a series of stacked plates, the opposite edges of the plates tend to fan apart a distance sufficient to simplify the separation of the plates. Usually only the uppermost several plates of the stack fan apart when the weight is applied. However, as each uppermost plate is removed, the weight causes an additional one or more of the plates to swing apart. With this arrangement, the top plate of the stack may be removed time after time until the stack is virtually depleted. The tapered lower end of the weight 20 has a tendency to urge the uppermost plates slightly out of alignment. The shape of the plates causes the wall of one plate to wedge against the next in a manner to swing the plates apart at the edges thereof opposite that engaged by the weight, as indicated in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

FIGS. 9 to 1 1 of the drawings discloses a dispenser C very similar to the dispenser A, but which is designed for use with plates of a predetermined size as indicated by the outline 47 in FIG. 9. Obviously, additional stops or shoulders could be provided for adapting the device for plates or bowls of smaller diameter.

The dispenser C includes a generally Y-shaped base 49 including a main arm 50 and a pair of shorter divergent arms 51. Abutment forming members 52 are provided on the arms 51 having arcuate inner surfaces 53 are designed to position the plate which is indicated by the broken line 47. The arm 50 is provided with an abutment forming member 54 having end shoulders 55 which are designed to fit against the curved surfaces of the plate rims 47. An arcuate notch 56 is provided in the abutment 54, concentric with the standard 19 which supports the weight 20. The edges of the plates are supported in intersection relation with the weight 20 and the weight engages the rims of the stacked plates and acts to fan them apart in the manner which has been previously described.

In using the term plates it should be understood I 4. The structure of claim 2 and in which said weight includes a substantially frusto-conical lower end portion arranged with the smaller diameter end lowermost and the upper diameter end connected to the weight l. A plate dispenser for use in dispensing disposable force applying means on said standard operable to i apply a downward force upon one side only of the periphery of said stack, said means when engaging the marginal edge of the stack of plates, acting to swing upwardly the uppermost plates on the diametrically opposite side thereof from that engaged by said weight. g

2. The dispenser of claim 1 and in which said force applying means comprises a weight slidable on said standard.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said weight includes a substantially frusto-conical lower end portion engageable with the marginal edges of the uppermost stacked plates.

periphery by a peripheral abutment shoulder.

5. The structure of claim 2 and including means movably supported on said weight and engageable with said standard to lock the weight in an elevated position.

6. The structure of claim 1 and including positioning means on said support member for holding the lowermost plates of stack in substantially fixed relation relative to said standard.

7. The structure of claim 2 and including a pair of first positioning means on said support member limiting movement of the lowermost plates of the stack toward said standard, and a pair of second positioning means engageable with the lowermost plates of the stack to limit movement of said lowermost plates away from said standard.

8. The structure of claim 7 and including at least one additional pair of second positioning means on said support member for engaging the peripheral edges of the lowermost plates of a second stack of inverted nested plates, the second stack being interchangeable with the first mentioned stack and being of different diameter.

9. The structure of claim 5 and in which said movably supported means on said weightcomprisesa member pivotally secured to the upper end of said weight on an axis parallel to the axis of said weight and movable into or out of position to engagp said standard.

10. The structure of claim 9 and m w standard extends.

ich said weight includes an aperture therethrough through which said 

1. A plate dispenser for use in dispensing disposable plastic plates and the like which are of concave-convex form, including; a support member for supporting the stack of plates in inverted position with the convex surfaces uppermost, a standard extending upwardly from said support member adjoining the periphery of the stack and generally parallel to the axis thereof, force applying means on said standard operable to apply a downward force upon one side only of the periphery of said stack, said means when engaging the marginal edge of the stack of plates, acting to swing upwardly the uppermost plates on the diametrically opposite side thereof from that engaged by said weight.
 2. The dispenser of claim 1 and in which said force applying means comprises a weight slidable on said standard.
 3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said weight includes a substantially frusto-conical lower end portion engageable with the marginal edges of the uppermost stacked plates.
 4. The structure of claim 2 and in which said weight includes a substantially frusto-conical lower end portion arranged with the smaller diameter end lowermost and the upper diameter end connected to the weiGht periphery by a peripheral abutment shoulder.
 5. The structure of claim 2 and including means movably supported on said weight and engageable with said standard to lock the weight in an elevated position.
 6. The structure of claim 1 and including positioning means on said support member for holding the lowermost plates of stack in substantially fixed relation relative to said standard.
 7. The structure of claim 2 and including a pair of first positioning means on said support member limiting movement of the lowermost plates of the stack toward said standard, and a pair of second positioning means engageable with the lowermost plates of the stack to limit movement of said lowermost plates away from said standard.
 8. The structure of claim 7 and including at least one additional pair of second positioning means on said support member for engaging the peripheral edges of the lowermost plates of a second stack of inverted nested plates, the second stack being interchangeable with the first mentioned stack and being of different diameter.
 9. The structure of claim 5 and in which said movably supported means on said weight comprises a member pivotally secured to the upper end of said weight on an axis parallel to the axis of said weight and movable into or out of position to engage said standard.
 10. The structure of claim 9 and in which said weight includes an aperture therethrough through which said standard extends. 